A grape tonic for patients

A grape tonic for patients

The chemical that makes grapefruit taste sour could be used to combat heart disease

Molecules known as flavanoids, common in citrus fruits, can zap the inflammation that leads to Britain’s biggest killer.

One called naringenin, which gives the fruit its bitterness, protects immune cells from mistakenly blocking blood vessels and causing heart conditions.

“Our job now is to find out how flavanoids turn on these protective genes.”

Dr Stephen Yarwood

Dr Stephen Yarwood, of Glasgow University, who did the study, said: “We were surprised to find flavanoids isolated from citrus fruits were very effective at reprogramming the response of human endothelial cells.

“Our job now is to find out how flavanoids turn on these protective genes.”